My goal for this article is to point our thoughts toward some positive aspects of this seven-week shelter-in-place period (and counting!) Many of us are experiencing very different schedules in life and in our church schedules due to the pandemic. And yes, there are plenty of negatives and things we don’t like, but are there some blessings for which to be thankful?
Yes, in God’s sovereignty, of course there are blessings to experience. Here are some that come to mind:
Time and motivation to think about what is truly important
Often, our schedules get ramped up to the extent that we find ourselves running a race in life. And, yes, it may feel like a “rat race” at times (which can’t be healthy). Or maybe we are just allowing ourselves to be carried along by a schedule that we are so accustomed to that you might call it a “rut”! For the past few weeks, most of us have been knocked out of those ruts and routines. Has this given you some time and motivation to think about your life? To think about what is important? To assess your priorities?
For me, the answer is yes, and I have experienced my Heavenly Father making some course corrections in my journey. And that is a very good thing! A power passage on this would be Proverbs 3:5-6. If I lean on My God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to control my life through the Holy Spirit, He will direct my paths. God is showing me afresh and anew that He manages my life beautifully and correctly, and that I can’t trust my plans or my ruts and routines to get me to where He wants to take me.
Time and motivation to think about what we believe
There have been some deep discussions spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Early estimates of deaths certainly caused us
to stop and think about the big picture of life! The economic fallout of the shutdowns are very real and are affecting or will be affecting many of us. Where do we turn in such a time when our thoughts are burdened? Oh hasn’t it been sweet to run to our Lord Jesus Christ and to rest in our position in Him?! And to be held tightly in His hands, as He promises in John 10:27 -29!
Have you found that same peace in Christ? With these disruptions, there is the temptation to forfeit the peace of Christ (John 14:27 ) and exchange it for fear, I challenge you to take full assessment of where your faith is. Is your faith and confidence truly in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ? “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith…” (2 Cor. 13:5). Or has Christianity just been a routine for you, a rut that is devoid of the personal, saving power of Jesus Christ?